NOTES ON FISHING METHODS OF THE SOUTH SEAS. 777 
The surface electric light attracted a number of small fishes and 
several forms of crustacea. A crab net and wire fish trap were set, 
but neither took anything; the former was hauled repeatedly, the 
latter was taken up in the morning. 
BORA BORA. 
This is one of the important islands of the Society group, situated 
10 miles from Tahaa. The village has a population of about 750 peo- 
ple. One day was spent here collecting and gathering information. 
Very little fishing is done near the village; the principal grounds are 
on the west side of Tupua Island, 2 miles distant. We were informed 
that a number of stone traps were located on this part of the island. 
The beach on the north and west sides is said to be free from coral 
and rock and a suitable place for operating seines. 
Fish are taken here by hook and line, seines, and traps. Seines vary 
in length from 100 to 150 feet; 25 fathoms deep; mesh, 24 and 34 
inches. One of the seines measured 60 feet in length, 12 feet deep, 
53-inch mesh. For floats pieces of koa wood are used, and for sinkers 
pieces of coral rock are fastened at regular intervals to the foot-line. 
These seines are operated in two ways—dragged ashore on the beach 
and used as a kind of a trap. The seine is carried on the shoulders of 
the fishermen to the place where it is to be set, and dropped gently 
into the water, forming a semicircle, sometimes the mouth facing 
offshore and at other times inshore, this being regulated by the position 
of the fish; one man stands at each side of the mouth, holding the ends, 
and two are at the bunt; several canoes are stationed off the mouth, 
and a number of men form a line between the canoes and the mouth of 
the seine, thus forming a lead; everything being ready, the canoes 
slowly approach the net, keeping the paddles splashing all the while 
to frighten the fish toward the seine. Some of the fish will, of course, 
escape, but the continual kicking and the splashing of the paddles has 
the effect of driving others into the net. The seine is then closed up, 
the foot-line drawn together, picked up, carried to the shore, and the 
contents placed in live-cars. 
Live-cars serve to carry live bait to the fishing-ground and to take 
back alive the fish caught. The live fish taken to the fishing-grounds 
are not used in connection with the seine; they are liberated on the 
reef in places where large species of edible fish are known to exist, to 
attract them from their hiding-places, the fishermen standing by with 
spears to capture them as they come forth in pursuit of the small fry. 
This is one of the favorite methods of fishing, not, however, on account 
of capturing any more fish than with the seine, but for the amount of 
sport connected with it. 
The cars are made of stout withes woven together basket fashion, 
over a light frame. In shape they are somewhat like a dugout witha 
very blunt bow and stern. There is more work in one of them than 
